NASA's Glenn Center Appoints First Woman Director

Janet Kavandi (pictured above) will be the new director of NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden announced On Monday.

Kavandi will replace Jim Free, who is moving to a new position in NASA's Washington offices, according to a press release.

The first woman to hold the center's top position, Kavandi will oversee an estimated budget of $580 million, as well as 3,200 employees and contract workers.

Kavandi is no stranger to life in orbit. She has gone on three shuttle missions and spent a total of 33 days in space. Prior to this, Kavandi had been serving as Glenn's deputy director. As stated on its website, Glenn's core mission is to "[d]rive advances in science, technology, aeronautics and space exploration to enhance knowledge, education, innovation, economic vitality and stewardship of Earth."